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By Elijah Odanga
The Law Society of Kenya has called upon Mithika Minturi, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, to urgently address issues plaguing the National Fertilizer Subsidy Program (NFSP), which they describe as an “unprecedented horror show.”
Faith Odhiambo, LSK President, expressed concern over the Ministry’s failure to implement effective measures to address farmers’ challenges. If necessary actions are not taken within the stipulated period, LSK threatens legal action against all implicated parties.
LSK identifies the Ministry of Agriculture, National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) as responsible for failing to enforce quality control measures mandated by the Standards Act.
Recent complaints from stakeholders highlight breaches of duty, incompetence, and rampant fraud in NFSP implementation. Farmers face bureaucratic hurdles, corruption, and delays in accessing fertilizer, leading to compromised yields and incomes.
Odhiambo emphasizes the detrimental impact of fake fertilizers on farmers’ livelihoods and condemns NFSP’s transformation into a platform for fraudulent activities. LSK vows to petition Parliament for the removal of CS Lithika Minturi under Article 152 (6) of the Constitution due to incompetence.
Additionally, they plan to pursue a class action lawsuit seeking compensation for affected farmers against the Ministry, NCPB, KEBS, and implicated officials.
